JP4468691B2 - Ultrasonic signal cable connector device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is an ultrasonic signal cable connector device (10), to be used with an ultrasonic endoscope (51) comprising an ultrasonic transducer (63) provided on a distal end of an insertion portion (52) to be inserted in the body cavity for generating ultrasonic wave to the tissue of the body cavity and receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected from the body cavity tissue so as to generate an ultrasonic signal, an ultrasonic signal cable (57) having a plurality of signal lines (71) each connected to a plurality of piezoelectric elements making up the ultrasonic transducer (63), and an ultrasonic connector (58) connected to the ultrasonic signal cable (57) and to the ultrasonic measuring equipment, comprising: a flexible wiring board (11) in an approximate L-shape wherein a wiring pattern is formed for connecting the plurality of signal lines (71) of the ultrasonic signal cable (57) to the ultrasonic connector (58); a first hard board portion (12) wherein a plurality of wiring lands for connecting the plurality of signal lines (71) of the ultrasonic signal cable (57) to the wiring pattern are formed on the one face of the flexible wiring board (11), and the portion where the wiring lands are formed is hardened; and a second hard board portion (13) wherein a plurality of connecting connector lands for connecting the ultrasonic connector (57) to the wiring pattern are formed on the other face of the flexible wiring board (11), wherein the portion where the connecting connector lands are formed is hardened; wherein the L-shaped flexible wiring board (11) is capable of changing shape to face the first hard board portion (12) and the second hard board portion (13) when viewed from the insertion direction. <IMAGE>

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic endoscope apparatus that observes the inside of a body cavity using ultrasonic waves, and in particular, an ultrasonic signal composed of a plurality of signal lines for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic signal and a drive control signal of an electronic scanning ultrasonic element. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic connector for connecting a cable to an ultrasonic observation device and an ultrasonic signal cable connector device used for connecting the ultrasonic signal cable.

  In recent years, in the medical field, an endoscope is used when observing, collecting, and treating a living tissue by being inserted into a body cavity. This endoscope includes an ultrasonic transducer at the distal end of an insertion portion to be inserted into a body cavity, transmits ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic transducer to the biological tissue, and is reflected from the biological tissue. There is an ultrasonic endoscope apparatus that generates an ultrasonic tomographic image from an image and observes a living tissue.

  The configuration of the ultrasonic endoscope used in this ultrasonic endoscope apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The ultrasonic endoscope 51 includes an elongated insertion portion 52 to be inserted into a body cavity, an operation portion 53 provided at a rear end of the insertion portion 52, an eyepiece portion 54 provided at a proximal end of the operation portion 53, A universal cord 55 extended from the operation unit 53, an endoscope connector 56 connected to a light source device (not shown) provided at the base end of the universal cord 55, and extended from the endoscope connector 56. An ultrasonic signal cable 57 having an ultrasonic connector 58 at the tip is formed.

  The insertion portion 52 is formed in a small diameter, and is provided with a distal end rigid portion 59, a bending portion 60, and a flexible portion 61 having a long flexibility from the distal end. The distal end rigid portion 59 is provided with an ultrasonic transducer portion 63 including an electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer configured by arranging a plurality of piezoelectric elements that transmit and receive ultrasonic waves.

  The operation section 53 is configured to bend and operate a bending knob 62 for bending the bending section 60 of the insertion section 52 in a desired direction, and an air / water supply channel (not shown) provided in the insertion section 52. There are provided an air supply / water supply button, a suction button for sucking and sucking water into the suction channel, a forceps treatment tool insertion port for inserting a forceps treatment tool into the forceps channel, and the like. The eyepiece 54 is guided by an image guide to visually recognize an optical image inside the body cavity taken in by the objective lens provided at the distal end hard portion 59 of the insertion portion 52.

  The endoscope connector 56 is connected to a light source device (not shown), and the illumination light from the light source device is guided by the light guide built in the universal cord 55, the operation unit 53, and the insertion unit 52, and the distal end hard portion. Projection from 59 to the observation site in the body cavity. The ultrasonic signal cable 57 extending from the endoscope connector 56 is inserted through an ultrasonic signal cable channel (not shown) provided in the universal cord 55, the operation unit 53, and the insertion unit 52, and the ultrasonic signal cable 57 is inserted. It is connected to an electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer provided in the acoustic transducer unit 63. An ultrasonic connector 58 provided at the distal end of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 is an ultrasonic observation device (not shown) that controls transmission / reception of ultrasonic waves by the electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic transducer section 63. Connect to.

  The ultrasonic signal cable 57 is connected to a plurality of piezoelectric elements of an electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer provided in the ultrasonic transducer section 63, and a plurality of signals for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves from the respective piezoelectric elements. The signal lines and the plurality of signal lines are grouped in units of a predetermined number, and each signal line has a shield and insulation coating for each grouping, and all the signal lines of all groups have a shield and insulation coating.

  A plurality of signal lines on the proximal end side of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 are electrically connected to a plurality of piezoelectric elements of an electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer provided in the ultrasonic transducer section 63, respectively. The distal end of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 connected to the plurality of piezoelectric elements is inserted from an ultrasonic signal cable channel opening provided in the distal end hard portion 59 of the insertion portion 52. The ultrasonic signal cable 57 inserted from the distal end rigid portion 59 through the opening of the ultrasonic signal cable channel includes the bending portion 60 and the flexible portion 61 of the insertion portion 52, the operation portion 53, the universal cord 55, and the endoscope connector. The 56 ultrasonic signal cable channels are inserted and connected to the ultrasonic connector 58.

  The ultrasonic connector 56 includes a plurality of signal lines of the ultrasonic signal cable 57, a connection connector 92 (to be described later) for electrically connecting the shields, and ultrasonic waves of signals transmitted and received by the signal lines. A matching substrate 91, which will be described later, is provided for matching with the observation equipment.

  A cable connector board is provided at each end of the plurality of signal lines of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 for each group in which the signal lines are grouped. The cable connector board is connected to the connection connector 92 of the ultrasonic connector 58. The configuration of this cable connector board is proposed in Patent Document 1, for example.

  The structure of the cable connector board provided at the tip of the ultrasonic signal cable proposed in Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the configuration of the ultrasonic connector 58 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic connector.

  The ultrasonic connector 58 includes a substantially rectangular box-shaped metal frame 96, a cable insertion hole 90, a connection connector 92, an insulating sheet 93, a matching substrate 91, a base substrate 94, a metal substrate 97, and a connector unit 98. The cable insertion hole 90 is an insertion hole for inserting the ultrasonic signal cable 57 into the metal frame 96. The connection connector 92 is mounted with a plurality of later-described cable connector boards provided at the tip of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 inserted from the cable insertion hole 90 and an extension board 85 described later connected to the cable connector board. The The insulating sheet 93 is interposed between the extension board 85 and the metal frame 96 and insulates when the extension board 85 is mounted and connected to the connection connector 92. The matching board 91 is electrically connected to the connection connector 92 and is equipped with a matching circuit for matching the electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer connected to the ultrasonic signal cable 57 and the ultrasonic observation equipment. It is a substrate. The base substrate 94 is connected to the matching substrate 91 and is provided with a plurality of connector pins for connecting to an ultrasonic observation device. The metal substrate 97 covers the periphery of the connector pins of the base substrate 94 and is fixed to the metal frame 96. The connector unit 98 sets the metal frame 96 and the metal substrate 97 to the same potential as the reference potential of the ultrasonic observation device when the ultrasonic connector 58 is attached to the ultrasonic observation device.

  The configuration of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 connected to the ultrasonic connector 58 will be described with reference to FIG. The ultrasonic signal cable 57 includes a plurality of signal core wires 71, an insulator layer 72 provided around each of the plurality of signal core wires 71, a shield 73 provided around each insulator layer 72, and a shield thereof. 73, a plurality of coaxial lines 75a, 75b, 75c, 75d formed by grouping the signal lines in units of a plurality of signal lines, and a plurality of the coaxial lines 75a to 75a- 75d is composed of an overall shield 76 provided around the 75d and an overall insulating coating 77 covering the overall shield 76.

  Cable connector boards 78a to 78d are connected to the respective ends of the plurality of coaxial lines 75a to 75d. As shown in the figure, the cable connector boards 78a to 78d are connected by being shifted in the axial direction of the coaxial lines 75a to 75d by the length L of the cable connector boards 78a to 78d from the tips of the coaxial lines 75a to 75d. . That is, the cable connector boards 78a to 78d are arranged so as not to overlap each other.

  The configuration of the cable connector boards 78a to 78d will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 7A, the cable connector board 78 is formed of a rectangular flexible board. First wiring lands 79a provided at equal intervals for electrically connecting the signal core wire 71 of the coaxial line 75 to the short side of one surface of the rectangular flexible substrate, and the shield of the coaxial line 75 A first ground wiring land 80a to which 73 is electrically connected is provided. A second wiring land 79c provided at equal intervals on the long side of one surface of the rectangular flexible substrate, and a second ground wiring land 80c provided along with the second wiring land 79c are provided. Yes. Further, on the surface of the flexible substrate, a wiring pattern 79b that connects the first wiring land 79a and the second wiring land 79c, and a ground that connects the first ground wiring land 80a and the second ground wiring land 80c. A wiring pattern 80b is formed. The width of the short side of the connection connector 78 where the first wiring land 79a and the first ground wiring land 80a are formed is such that the insertion portion 52, the operation portion 53, the universal cord 55 of the ultrasonic endoscope 51, It is formed in a size that can be inserted into an ultrasonic signal cable channel provided in the endoscope connector 56.

  The extension board 85 connected to the cable connector board 78 is formed of a rectangular flexible board. A wiring land 86 electrically connected to the second wiring land 79c and the second ground wiring land 80c of the cable connector board 78 is provided on one end side of the surface of the rectangular flexible board. . A connection land 87 to be attached to the connection connector 92 of the ultrasonic connector 58 is provided on the other end side of the surface of the flexible substrate, and includes a wiring pattern 85 for connecting the wiring land 86 and the connection land 87. Yes.

  In the state where the cable connector boards 78a to 78d are connected to the ends of the plurality of coaxial lines 75a to 75d of the ultrasonic signal cable 57, the distal end hard part of the insertion part 52 from the side where the cable connector board 78 is connected. 59, and through the ultrasonic signal cable channel of the insertion portion 52, the operation portion 53, the universal cord 55, and the endoscope connector 56, as described above, from the cable insertion hole 90 of the ultrasonic connector 58. Insert it. To the second wiring land 79c and the second ground wiring land 80c of the cable connector boards 78a to 78d respectively connected to the ends of the coaxial lines 75a to 75d of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 inserted from the cable insertion hole 90, The wiring lands 86 of the extension board 85 are electrically connected by soldering.

  The other wiring land 87 of the extension board 85 in which the wiring land 86 is electrically connected to the second wiring land 79 c and the second ground wiring land 80 c of the cable connector board 78 is connected to the ultrasonic connector 58. Attached to the connection connector 92 and connected to the contact pins of the base substrate 94 via the matching substrate 91.

In other words, the ultrasonic signal cable is inserted through the cable connector board that can be inserted into the thin ultrasonic signal cable channel at the tip of the cable, and connected to the matching board via the extension board after being inserted into the ultrasonic connector. is doing.
JP 2000-139927 A (see right column on page 5 to left column on page 7, see FIGS. 8 to 12)

  In the conventional ultrasonic endoscope, the signal core wire 71 of the ultrasonic cable 57 connected to the electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer depends on the number of piezoelectric elements constituting the electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer. A relatively large number of these are built-in. For this reason, the wire diameter of the signal core wire 71 is made extremely thin because the outer diameter of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 is reduced and the width of the plurality of piezoelectric elements is narrow and the electrical connection portion of the signal core wire is also narrow.

  Further, the shape and size of the cable connector board 78 connected to the tip of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 is set so as to be inserted into a small ultrasonic signal cable channel such as the insertion portion 52 and the universal cord 55 as described above. The inner diameter of the ultrasonic signal cable channel must be equal to or smaller than the inner diameter.

  For this reason, the land width and land interval of the first wiring lands 79a provided on the cable connector board 78 connecting the predetermined number of signal core wires 71 of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 are minimized. Therefore, highly skilled work is required to electrically connect the fine signal core wire 71 to the first wiring land 79a having the minimum land width and land interval by soldering.

  On the other hand, the plurality of connector pieces provided on the connection connector 92 of the ultrasonic connector 58 are set such that the connector piece width and the connector piece interval are set relatively wide so that contact failure does not occur. Corresponding to the connector piece of the connection connector 92 of the ultrasonic connector 58, the land width and land interval of the second wiring land 79c of the cable connector board 78 are set. In addition, the extension board 85 is provided to facilitate attachment to the connection connector 92.

  However, in the state where the cable connector board 78 is connected to the ultrasonic signal cable 57 in advance, the extension is performed after the ultrasonic signal cable channel is inserted into the cable insertion hole 90 of the ultrasonic connector 58. The substrate 85 needs to be soldered. The soldering operation between the cable connector board 78 and the extension board 85 in the narrow inside of the ultrasonic connector 58 is complicated and requires skill. Further, the soldered portion of the cable connector board 78 and the extension board 85 has a problem that a crack is easily generated by an external force.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and eliminates an electrical connection work in an ultrasonic connector having a narrow working environment, and can be easily inserted into a thin ultrasonic signal cable channel. The purpose is to provide.

  The ultrasonic signal cable connector device of the present invention is provided at the distal end of an insertion portion to be inserted into a body cavity, transmits ultrasonic waves to the tissue in the body cavity, and receives ultrasonic waves reflected from the tissue in the body cavity. An ultrasonic endoscope having an electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer that generates an ultrasonic signal, and driving and controlling the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic endoscope, and an ultrasonic image signal from the generated ultrasonic signal In an ultrasonic signal cable connector device used in an ultrasonic endoscope device comprising an ultrasonic observation device that generates a plurality of piezoelectric elements that are connected to each of a plurality of piezoelectric elements that constitute the electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer An ultrasonic signal cable having a signal line; an ultrasonic connector for connecting the ultrasonic signal cable to the ultrasonic observation device; and a plurality of signal lines of the ultrasonic signal cable connected to the ultrasonic connector. A substantially L-shaped flexible wiring board on which wiring patterns for connection to each other are formed, and a plurality of signal lines of the ultrasonic signal cable connected to the wiring patterns on one end surface of the flexible wiring board, respectively. A plurality of wiring lands are formed, a first hard substrate portion in which a portion where the wiring lands are formed is hardened, and a plurality of portions for connecting the wiring pattern to the ultrasonic connector on the other end surface of the flexible wiring substrate. And a second hard substrate portion in which the portion where the connector connection land is formed is hardened, and the first hard substrate via the L-shaped flexible wiring substrate. And the second hard substrate portion can be deformed so as to face each other.

  A plurality of connection lands for connecting signal lines of the ultrasonic signal cable are formed on both front and back surfaces of the first hard substrate portion of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device of the present invention, and the first hard substrate portion A plurality of connection lands formed on the back surface of the second wiring board are connected to the second hard board portion through a wiring pattern having a through hole provided in the flexible wiring board.

  In the ultrasonic signal cable connector device of the present invention, the width direction of the first hard substrate portion and the length direction of the second hard substrate portion are the ultrasonic waves provided in the insertion portion of the ultrasonic endoscope. The inner diameter of the signal cable insertion channel is set to be equal to or smaller than the inner diameter.

  The ultrasonic signal cable connector device of the present invention can minimize the electrical connection work by soldering the cable connector to the tip of the ultrasonic signal cable, and can be easily inserted into a small ultrasonic signal cable channel. Further, it is easy to attach to the connection connector provided in the ultrasonic connector.

  The present invention minimizes connection work of a cable connector to the tip of an ultrasonic signal cable connected to an ultrasonic vibrator, insertion into a thin ultrasonic cable channel, and attachment work to an ultrasonic connector. This simplifies the working efficiency and improves the strength of the cable connector.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A first embodiment of an ultrasonic signal cable connector device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a cable connector connected to an ultrasonic signal cable which is a first embodiment of an ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to the present invention, FIG. 1 (a) is a plan view, and FIG. 1 (b) is a plan view. It is a side view. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a method of inserting the cable connector connected to the ultrasonic signal cable, which is the first embodiment of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to the present invention, into the ultrasonic signal cable channel.

  In the ultrasonic endoscope apparatus, as described above with reference to FIG. 6, the ultrasonic signal cable 57 connected to the electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer provided at the distal end of the insertion portion of the ultrasonic endoscope is an ultrasonic wave. The insertion portion 52 of the endoscope, the operation portion 53, the universal cord 55, and the thin ultrasonic signal cable channel provided in the endoscope connector 56 are inserted into the ultrasonic observation device via the ultrasonic connector 58. Connected. A cable connector for connection with the ultrasonic connector 58 is used at the tip of the ultrasonic signal cable 57.

  An ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to the present invention for connecting to the ultrasonic connector 58 provided at the tip of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 will be described with reference to FIG. The configurations of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 and the ultrasonic connector 58 used in the present invention are the same as those of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 and the ultrasonic connector 58 described above with reference to FIGS.

  An ultrasonic signal cable connector device (hereinafter simply referred to as a cable connector) 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a flexible substrate 11 having connection lands and circuit patterns formed on the surface of an insulating base substrate. The flexible substrate 11 is integrally formed in a substantially L shape.

  A plurality of signal core wires 71 of the coaxial wires 75a to 75d of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 are electrically connected to the surface of one end of the L-shaped flexible substrate 11 by soldering. A plurality of signal core wire wiring lands 15a to 15n provided on the signal core and a plurality of signal core wires 71 respectively connected to the signal core wire wiring lands 15a to 15n are electrically connected by soldering. A ground land 16 is provided. From the signal core lands 15 a to 15 n and the ground land 16, wiring patterns 17 a to 17 n provided at equal intervals along the surface shape of the flexible substrate 11 and a ground pattern 18 extend.

  On the surface of the other end of the flexible substrate 11 formed in the L-shape, a plurality of connector connection lands 19a are mounted on the connection connector 92 of the ultrasonic connector 58 and connected to the matching substrate 91 at equal intervals. To 19n and a connector ground land 20 are provided. The connector connection lands 19a to 19n are connected to the wiring patterns 17a to 18n, and the connector ground lands 20 are connected to the ground pattern 18.

  Reference numeral 11 in the figure, which is the width direction dimension of the surface of one end of the flexible substrate 11 provided with the signal core lands 15a to 15n and the ground land 16, is an insertion portion 52 and an operation portion 53 of the ultrasonic endoscope 51. The inner diameter of the ultrasonic signal cable channel provided in the universal cord 55 and the endoscope connector 56 is set to be equal to or smaller than the inner diameter. For this reason, the land width of the signal core lands 15a to 15n is substantially equal to the wire diameter of the signal core 71 of the ultrasonic signal cable 57, and the distance between the lands of the signal core lands 15a to 15n is the width. The distance is set such that a predetermined number of signal cores 71 can be connected to the direction dimension l1.

Further, the insertion direction dimensions to the connector wiring connector 92 of the ultrasound connector 58 in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the other end of the land 19a~19n connector ground the flexible substrate 11 where the lands 20 are provided, one end substantially the same Ku the signal core line lands 15a~15n surface of the width direction dimension l1 of the flexible substrate 11 to which the ground land 16 is provided, formed below the inner diameter of the ultrasonic signal cable channel.

As shown in FIG. 1B, a hard member 22 is attached to the back side of the flexible substrate 11 on which the signal core lands 15a to 15n and the ground land 16 are provided, and the first hard substrate portion 12 is attached. Form. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, a hard member 23 is attached to the back surface side of the flexible substrate 11 provided with the connector connection lands 19a to 19n and the connector ground lands 20, and the second hard substrate. Part 13 is formed. Longitudinal dimension l3 of the width l1 of the rigid board portion 12 of the first term second rigid substrate 13, the formed substantially equal (l1 = l3) of inner diameter less than the ultrasonic signal cable channel. Furthermore, the length from the portion where the flexible substrate 11 formed with the wiring patterns 17a to 17n and the ground pattern 18 extended from the first hard substrate portion 12 is deformed into an L shape to the second hard substrate portion 13 is longer. The direction dimension l2 is equal to or less than the inner diameter of the ultrasonic signal cable channel, and is equal to or less than the width direction dimension of the first hard portion 12 and the length direction dimension l3 of the second hard substrate portion 13 (l1 = l3 ≧ l2).

  That is, the flexible substrate 11 formed in the L-shape forms the first hard substrate portion 12 by attaching the hard member 22 to the portion where the signal core lands 15a to 15n and the ground land 16 are provided, A hard member 23 is attached to a portion where the connector connection lands 19a to 19n and the connector grounding land 20 are formed to form the second hard substrate portion 13, and the first hard substrate portion 12 and the second hard substrate are formed. The portion 13 is not easily bent and deformed, and the flexible substrate 11 provided with the wiring patterns 17a to 17n and the ground pattern 18 other than the first and second hard substrate portions 12 and 13 leaves soft flexibility. The flexible substrate portion 14 is obtained.

  The signal core wires 71 of the ultrasonic signal cable 58 are connected to the signal core wires lands 15 a to 15 n provided on the first rigid board portion 12 of the cable connector 10 having the above configuration, and the shield 73 of each signal core wire 71 is connected to the ground land 16. Are electrically connected using a soldering jig for a thin signal wire.

  The ultrasonic signal cable 57 to which the cable connector 10 is connected is transmitted from the distal end hard portion 59 of the ultrasonic endoscope 51 to the insertion portion 52, the operation portion 53, the universal cord 55, and the ultrasonic connector 56. A method of inserting the signal cable channel will be described with reference to FIG.

  The cable connector 10 electrically connected to the tip of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 includes a surface on which the signal core lands 15a to 15n and the ground lands 16 of the first hard substrate 12 are provided, and a second The flexible substrate portion 14 is bent into a substantially U shape so that the connector connection lands 19a to 19n of the hard substrate portion 13 and the surface on which the connector ground lands 20 are provided face each other.

  When inserted into the ultrasonic signal cable channel 25 in this U-shaped bent state, the first and second hard substrate portions 12 and 13 are set to be equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the ultrasonic signal cable channel 25. The ultrasonic signal cable channel 25 can be inserted. When the cable connector 10 is inserted into the ultrasonic signal cable channel 25, in order to maintain the U-shape, for example, a cylindrical tube is crowned or a cellophane tape is wound in a U-shaped state. Turn.

  Thus, the cable connector 10 connected to the tip of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 inserted through the ultrasonic signal cable channel 25 is inserted from the cable insertion hole 901 of the ultrasonic connector 58, and the After removing the cylindrical tube or the cellophane tape that has been bent and maintained in the U-shape of the cable connector 10, the second hard board portion 23 is attached to the connection connector 92.

  As described above, before the ultrasonic signal cable 57 is inserted into the ultrasonic signal cable channel 25, the signal core wire 71 and the shield 73 of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 are connected to the first rigid board portion 12 of the cable connector 10. Can be electrically connected to the signal core lands 15 a to 15 n and the ground land 16. This soldering operation, which is an electrical connection, can be performed in a wide environmental state in which no structures exist around. For this reason, the special jig for solder connection of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 and the cable connector 10 can be relatively simplified because there is no restriction on the working environment. Further, since the cable connector 10 is formed in an L shape and is integrally formed with the second hard board portion 13 to be attached to the connection connector 92 of the ultrasonic connector 58, the cable connector 10 is formed inside the ultrasonic connector 58. No soldering work is required, and even if an external force is applied to the L-shaped part, cracks are less likely to occur.

  Next, a second embodiment of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device for an ultrasonic endoscope of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a cable connector used for an ultrasonic signal cable which is a second embodiment of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to the present invention, FIG. 3 (a) is a plan view, and FIG. 3 (b) is a plan view. It is a side view. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a method of inserting a cable connector used in an ultrasonic signal cable which is a second embodiment of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to the present invention into an ultrasonic signal cable channel. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the first embodiment described above, the signal core lands 15a to 15n and the ground land 16 are formed on the surface of one end of the flexible substrate 11 formed in an L-shape. The cable connector of the second embodiment 10 ′ is a signal core land 15′a, 15′b,... And a ground land 16 ′ (a core core land 15 ′ on the back side) on both the front and back surfaces of one end of the flexible substrate 11 ′ formed in an L shape. a, 15′b,... and the ground land 16 ′ are not shown), and the signal core lands 15′a, 15′b,. The wiring patterns 17′a, 17′b,... And the ground pattern 18 ′ are formed extending in the longitudinal direction. The wiring patterns 17′a, 17′b,... And the ground pattern 18 ′ provided on the back side of the flexible substrate 11 are formed through holes 24a, 24b,. Are led out to the surface side through the through holes 24a, 24b,.

  On the surface side of the other end of the flexible substrate 11, connector connection lands 19'a to 19'n and a connector ground land 20 'for mounting on the connection connector 92 of the ultrasonic connector 58 are provided. The connection lands 19'a to 19'n and the connector ground land 20 'are connected to the wiring patterns 17a, 17b,... And the through holes 24a, 24b,.

  That is, signal core lands 15′a, 15′b,... And ground lands 16 ′ are provided on both front and back surfaces of one end of the flexible substrate 11, and the signal core lands 15′a, 15′b,. The signal core wire 71 of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 and the shield 73 are soldered and connected to the land 16 ′, so that the first hard substrate is not attached to the land 16 ′ without sticking the hard member 22 as in the first embodiment. A portion 12 'can be formed.

  Further, when the number of the signal cores 71 of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 connected to the cable connector 10 ′ is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, signals are transmitted to both the front and back sides of the first hard substrate portion 12 ′. By providing the core lands 15′a, 15′b,... And the ground lands 16 ′, the width direction dimension l1 ′ of the first hard substrate portion 12 ′ is about half (l1 ′ = l1 / 2). ).

  Further, the signal core lands 15′a, 15′b,... On both the front and back surfaces of the first hard substrate portion 12 ′, the wiring patterns 17′a, 17′b,. The first hard substrate portion 12 ′ extends straight in the longitudinal direction and is deformed into an L-shape of the flexible substrate 11, and the wiring patterns 17′a, 17′b,. Are led out to the surface side by through holes 24a, 24b,..., And the connector connection land 19′a of the second hard board portion 13 ′ to which the hard member 23 ′ is adhered is the same as in the first embodiment described above. To 19′n and the connector ground land 20 ′. As a result, the dimension in the longitudinal direction and the dimension in the width direction of the second hard portion 13 ′ can be matched to the shape dimension of the connection connector 92 of the ultrasonic connector 58 as in the first embodiment.

  As described above, the cable connector 10 ′ is provided with the signal core lands 15 ′ a to 15 ′ n and the ground lands 16 ′ on both the front and back surfaces of the L-shaped flexible substrate 11 ′, and signals of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 are provided on these. The first hard board portion 12 is formed by soldering and connecting the core wire 71 and the shield 73, and the hard member 23 is attached to the back surface on which the connector connection lands 19 ′ to 19 ′ n and the connector ground lands 20 ′ are formed. By sticking and forming the second hard substrate portion 13 ′, the first hard substrate portion 12 ′ and the second hard substrate portion 13 ′ are not easily bent and deformed. Further, the flexible substrate 11 provided with wiring patterns 17′a, 17′b,..., Ground patterns 18 ′, through holes 24a, 24b,... Except for the first and second hard substrate portions 12 ′, 13 ′. Thus, the flexible substrate portion 14 with the remaining flexible flexibility is obtained.

  The signal core wires 71 of the ultrasonic signal cable 58 are connected to the signal core wire lands 15′a, 15′b,... Provided on both the front and back surfaces of the first hard board portion 12 ′ of the cable connector 10 ′. In addition, the shield 73 of each signal core wire 71 is electrically connected using a soldering jig for the small signal wire.

  The ultrasonic signal cable 57 to which the cable connector 10 ′ is connected is connected to the insertion portion 52, operation portion 53, universal cord 55, and endoscope connector 56 from the distal end hard portion 59 of the ultrasonic endoscope 51. A method of inserting the sound wave signal cable channel will be described with reference to FIG.

  The cable connector 10 ′ electrically connected to the tip of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 has signal core lands 15′a, 15′b,... And a ground land 16 ′ of the first hard board portion 12 ′. The flexible substrate portion 14 'is provided so that the provided one surface faces the surface on which the connector connection lands 19'a to 19'n of the second hard substrate portion 13' and the connector ground lands 20 'are provided. Fold it into a U shape.

  When this U-shaped bent state is inserted into the ultrasonic signal cable channel 25, the first and second hard board portions 12 ′ and 13 ′ are set to be equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the ultrasonic signal cable channel 25. Therefore, the ultrasonic signal cable channel 25 can be inserted. When the cable connector 10 'is inserted into the ultrasonic signal cable channel 25, in order to maintain the U-shaped body, for example, a cylindrical tube is crowned or cellophane tape is bent in a U-shape. Wrap.

  In this way, the cable connector 10 ′ connected to the tip of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 inserted through the ultrasonic signal cable channel 25 is inserted from the ultrasonic cable insertion hole 71 of the ultrasonic connector 58. Then, after removing the cylindrical tube or the cellophane tape that has been bent and maintained in the U-shape of the cable connector 10 ′, the second hard board portion 23 ′ is attached to the connection connector 92.

  In the second embodiment, the width dimension l1 ′ of the first hard substrate portion 12 ′ can be set to about half (l1 ′ = l1 / 2) with respect to the width dimension l1 of the first embodiment. Accordingly, the longitudinal dimension l3 ′ of the second hard substrate portion 13 ′ can be set to a value relatively close to the diameter of the ultrasonic signal cable channel 25.

  Further, the signal core lands 15′a, 15′b,... On both the front and back surfaces of the first hard substrate 12 ′, and the wiring patterns 17′a to 17′n that extend straight in the longitudinal direction of the ground lands 16 are grounded. A hard member is attached to either the front or back surface of the L-shaped deformed portion 14'a on which the pattern 18 'and the through holes 24a, 24b, ... are formed to form a third hard substrate 14'a. When the third hard substrate portion 14'a is formed, it is possible to prevent the supply of deformation bending stress to the through holes 24a, 24b,. In addition, wiring pattern 17'a-17'n and the grounding pattern 18 'extended from the connector connection land 19'a-19'n of the said 2nd hard board | substrate part 13', and the connector grounding land 20 'are provided. A flexible substrate portion 14′b in which the flexible state of the flexible substrate 11 ′ is maintained is formed in the portion to be formed.

  As described above, before inserting the ultrasonic signal cable 57 into the ultrasonic signal cable channel 25, the signal core wire 71 and the shield 73 of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 are connected to the first rigid board portion 12 of the cable connector 10. Can be electrically connected to the signal core lands 15 a to 15 n and the ground land 16. This soldering operation, which is an electrical connection, can be performed in a wide environmental state where there are no structures around. For this reason, the special jig for solder connection of the ultrasonic signal cable 57 and the cable connector 10 can be relatively simplified because there is no restriction on the working environment. Further, since the cable connector 10 is formed in an L shape and is integrally formed with the second hard board portion 13 to be attached to the connection connector 92 of the ultrasonic connector 58, the cable connector 10 is provided inside the ultrasonic connector 58. Soldering work is also unnecessary, and it is strong against the cutting force applied to the L-shaped part.

[Appendix]
According to the embodiment of the present invention described in detail above, the following configuration can be obtained.

(Supplementary Note 1) An electron that is provided at the distal end of an insertion portion that is inserted into a body cavity, transmits an ultrasonic wave to tissue in the body cavity, and receives an ultrasonic wave reflected from the tissue in the body cavity to generate an ultrasonic signal. An ultrasonic endoscope having a scanning ultrasonic transducer, and an ultrasonic observation device that drives and controls the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic endoscope and generates an ultrasonic image signal from the generated ultrasonic signal In an ultrasonic signal cable connector device used for an ultrasonic endoscope device consisting of:
An ultrasonic signal cable having a plurality of signal lines connected to each of a plurality of piezoelectric elements constituting the electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer;
An ultrasonic connector for connecting the ultrasonic signal cable to the ultrasonic observation device;
A substantially L-shaped flexible wiring board on which wiring patterns for connecting a plurality of signal lines of the ultrasonic signal cable to the ultrasonic connectors are formed;
A plurality of wiring lands for connecting a plurality of signal lines of the ultrasonic signal cable to the wiring pattern are formed on one end face of the flexible wiring board, and a portion where the wiring lands are formed is hardened. Hard substrate part,
A plurality of connector connection lands for connecting the wiring pattern to the ultrasonic connector are formed on the other end surface of the flexible wiring substrate, and a second hard substrate portion in which a portion where the connector connection lands are formed is hardened; ,
The ultrasonic signal cable connector device is characterized in that the first hard substrate portion and the second hard substrate portion can be deformed to face each other via the L-shaped flexible wiring substrate.

  (Appendix 2) A plurality of connection lands for connecting signal lines of the ultrasonic signal cable are formed on both the front and back surfaces of the first hard substrate portion, and formed on the back surface of the first hard substrate portion. The ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to appendix 1, wherein the plurality of connection lands are connected to the second hard substrate portion through a wiring pattern having a through hole provided in the flexible wiring substrate.

  (Additional remark 3) The dimension of the width direction of the said 1st hard board | substrate part and the length direction of the said 2nd hard board | substrate part is below the internal diameter of the ultrasonic signal cable channel provided in the insertion part of an ultrasonic endoscope. The ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to any one of appendix 1 or 2, characterized in that:

  (Supplementary note 4) The ultrasonic signal cable connector according to any one of Supplementary notes 1 to 3, wherein the flexible wiring board is hardened in a width direction portion that is the same as a width direction of the first hard board portion. apparatus.

  (Additional remark 5) The said flexible wiring board hardened the width direction part same as the width direction of the said 1st hard board | substrate part, and provided the said through hole in the hardened part. Or the ultrasonic signal cable connector device in any one of 3.

The structure of the cable connector used for the ultrasonic signal cable which is 1st embodiment of the ultrasonic signal cable connector apparatus which concerns on this invention is shown, Fig.3 (a) is a top view, FIG.3 (b) is a side view. The side view which shows the insertion method to the ultrasonic signal cable channel of the cable connector used for the ultrasonic signal cable which is 1st embodiment of the ultrasonic signal cable connector apparatus which concerns on this invention. The structure of the cable connector used for the ultrasonic signal cable which is 2nd embodiment of the ultrasonic signal cable connector apparatus which concerns on this invention is shown, Fig.3 (a) is a top view, FIG.3 (b) is a side view. The side view which shows the insertion method to the ultrasonic signal cable channel of the cable connector used for the ultrasonic signal cable which is 2nd embodiment of the ultrasonic signal cable connector apparatus which concerns on this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the ultrasonic endoscope which concerns on this invention. The top view which shows the structure of the ultrasonic signal cable used for the conventional ultrasonic endoscope. The top view which shows the structure of the cable connector board | substrate of the ultrasonic signal cable used for the conventional ultrasonic endoscope. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the ultrasonic connector used for the conventional ultrasonic endoscope.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cable connector 11 Flexible board 12 1st hard board part 13 2nd hard board part 14 Soft board part 15 Signal core wire land 16 Ground land 17 Wiring pattern 18 Ground pattern 19 Connector connection land 20 Connector ground land 22, 23 Hard member 25 Ultrasonic signal cable channel

Claims (3)

An electronic scanning ultrasonic wave that is provided at the distal end of an insertion portion that is inserted into a body cavity, transmits an ultrasonic wave to tissue in the body cavity, and receives an ultrasonic wave reflected from the tissue in the body cavity to generate an ultrasonic signal An ultrasonic endoscope comprising an ultrasonic endoscope having a vibrator and an ultrasonic observation device that drives and controls the ultrasonic vibrator of the ultrasonic endoscope and generates an ultrasonic image signal from the generated ultrasonic signal. In the ultrasonic signal cable connector device used for the sonic endoscope device,
An ultrasonic signal cable having a plurality of signal lines connected to each of a plurality of piezoelectric elements constituting the electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer;
An ultrasonic connector for connecting the ultrasonic signal cable to the ultrasonic observation device;
A substantially L-shaped flexible wiring board on which wiring patterns for connecting a plurality of signal lines of the ultrasonic signal cable to the ultrasonic connectors are formed;
A plurality of wiring lands for connecting a plurality of signal lines of the ultrasonic signal cable to the wiring pattern are formed on one end face of the flexible wiring board, and a portion where the wiring lands are formed is hardened. Hard substrate part,
A plurality of connector connection lands for connecting the wiring pattern to the ultrasonic connector are formed on the other end surface of the flexible wiring substrate, and a second hard substrate portion in which a portion where the connector connection lands are formed is hardened; ,
The ultrasonic signal cable connector device is characterized in that the first hard substrate portion and the second hard substrate portion can be deformed to face each other via the L-shaped flexible wiring substrate.   A plurality of connection lands for connecting signal lines of the ultrasonic signal cable are formed on both front and back surfaces of the first hard substrate portion, and a plurality of connection lands formed on the back surface of the first hard substrate portion. The ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic signal cable connector device is connected to the second hard substrate portion through a wiring pattern having a through hole provided in the flexible wiring substrate.   The width direction of the first hard substrate portion and the length direction of the second hard substrate portion are set to be equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the ultrasonic signal cable channel provided in the insertion portion of the ultrasonic endoscope. The ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic signal cable connector device is characterized in that

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